A federal judge on Wednesday reversed the Trump administration’s cuts of more than $2.6 billion from Harvard University.U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs sided with the Ivy League school in ruling that the cuts amounted to illegal retaliation for Harvard’s rejection of White House demands for changes to its governance and policies.In an 84-page order, Burroughs concluded that the Trump administration “used antisemitism as a smokescreen” to block billions in research funding illegally. If the ruling stands, it promises to revive Harvard’s sprawling research operation and hundreds of projects that lost federal money.The ruling delivers a significant victory to Harvard in its battle with the Trump administration, which also has sought to prevent the school from hosting foreign students and threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status.Video below: New students arrive on Harvard campusDuring a July hearing, an attorney representing Harvard argued the case is about the government trying to control the “inner workings” of Harvard. The funding cuts, if not reversed, could lead to the loss of research, damaged careers, and the closing of labs, he said. Harvard accused the Trump administration of waging a retaliation campaign against the university after it rejected a series of demands in an April 11 letter from a federal antisemitism task force.The government’s attorney argued that the Trump administration has the authority to cancel the grants after concluding the funding did not align with its priorities, namely, Trump’s executive order combating antisemitism.”Defendants and the President are right to combat antisemitism and to use all lawful means to do so. Harvard was wrong to tolerate hateful behavior for as long as it did. The record here, however, does not reflect that fighting antisemitism was Defendants’ true aim in acting against Harvard and, even if it were, combatting antisemitism cannot be accomplished on the back of the First Amendment,” Burroughs wrote in the conclusion of her order. “We must fight against antisemitism, but we equally need to protect our rights, including our right to free speech, and neither goal should nor needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the other. Harvard is currently, even if belatedly, taking steps it needs to take to combat antisemitism and seems willing to do even more if need be. Now it is the job of the courts to similarly step up, to act to safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by the Constitution, and to ensure that important research is not improperly subjected to arbitrary and procedurally infirm grant terminations, even if doing so risks the wrath of a government committed to its agenda no matter the cost.”Video below: Harvard fights Trump in courtBeyond the courthouse, the Trump administration and Harvard officials have been discussing a potential agreement that would end investigations and allow the university to regain access to federal funding. President Donald Trump has said he wants Harvard to pay no less than $500 million, but no deal has materialized, even as the administration has struck agreements with Columbia and Brown.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. —

A federal judge on Wednesday reversed the Trump administration’s cuts of more than $2.6 billion from Harvard University.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs sided with the Ivy League school in ruling that the cuts amounted to illegal retaliation for Harvard’s rejection of White House demands for changes to its governance and policies.

In an 84-page order, Burroughs concluded that the Trump administration “used antisemitism as a smokescreen” to block billions in research funding illegally. If the ruling stands, it promises to revive Harvard’s sprawling research operation and hundreds of projects that lost federal money.

The ruling delivers a significant victory to Harvard in its battle with the Trump administration, which also has sought to prevent the school from hosting foreign students and threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status.

Video below: New students arrive on Harvard campus

During a July hearing, an attorney representing Harvard argued the case is about the government trying to control the “inner workings” of Harvard. The funding cuts, if not reversed, could lead to the loss of research, damaged careers, and the closing of labs, he said.

Harvard accused the Trump administration of waging a retaliation campaign against the university after it rejected a series of demands in an April 11 letter from a federal antisemitism task force.

The government’s attorney argued that the Trump administration has the authority to cancel the grants after concluding the funding did not align with its priorities, namely, Trump’s executive order combating antisemitism.

“Defendants and the President are right to combat antisemitism and to use all lawful means to do so. Harvard was wrong to tolerate hateful behavior for as long as it did. The record here, however, does not reflect that fighting antisemitism was Defendants’ true aim in acting against Harvard and, even if it were, combatting antisemitism cannot be accomplished on the back of the First Amendment,” Burroughs wrote in the conclusion of her order. “We must fight against antisemitism, but we equally need to protect our rights, including our right to free speech, and neither goal should nor needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the other. Harvard is currently, even if belatedly, taking steps it needs to take to combat antisemitism and seems willing to do even more if need be. Now it is the job of the courts to similarly step up, to act to safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by the Constitution, and to ensure that important research is not improperly subjected to arbitrary and procedurally infirm grant terminations, even if doing so risks the wrath of a government committed to its agenda no matter the cost.”

Video below: Harvard fights Trump in court

Beyond the courthouse, the Trump administration and Harvard officials have been discussing a potential agreement that would end investigations and allow the university to regain access to federal funding. President Donald Trump has said he wants Harvard to pay no less than $500 million, but no deal has materialized, even as the administration has struck agreements with Columbia and Brown.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.